Ming Returns To The GMT In New 22.01

With their first release of 2022, Ming is returning to a complication we haven’t seen from them since 2018, the GMT. The new watch, dubbed the 22.01, debut’s a new case family with a pair of dial options in the Kyoto and Gilt, each featuring a subtle mixture of tone and texture to compliment the now trademark Ming design style. As you’ve likely come to expect from Ming, there’s plenty of small details to discover, with both the watch, and the manner in which you’ll have the opportunity to purchase one. The 22.01 will get 4 separate ordering windows, but there’s only so many to go around, so results are not guaranteed. 

The 22.01 is meant to bridge the gap between the now discontinued 17 series (which we said goodbye to last year), and the more premium 37 series. The watch gets a 38mm grade 5 titanium case that applies a new mix of brushed and polished surfaces to a familiar shape, which includes the flared lugs. With a case thickness of 10.7mm and lug to lug length of 43.9mm, it should wear as well as you’d expect, which is becoming the norm for Ming these days.

Ming have packed the caliber 330.M 2 which is based on the Sellita SW330-2 within these tight confines with the help of their assembly partners at Schwarz Etienne in Switzerland. It is visible through an exhibition caseback, and gets black circular grained finish on the rotor for a welcome touch of contrast. Use of the SW330-2 means you’ll get an independently set 24 hour hand, so no quick adjustment of the local time here. 

The dial of the 22.01 is where things really begin to get interesting. There are two versions of the watch in the Kyoto and the Gilt. They share a similar structure but find inspiration in different places. First, the Kyoto which is described by Ming as “ dial reflects the textures and colors of traditional Japanese gardens with placed stone and perfect moss, overlaid with the impression of water conveyed by an intermediate sapphire dial“ Put simply, a gray center section with crosshair is surrounded by a dark green chapter ring. A subtle texture begs for a closer look, upon which you will notice the additional layer of sapphire upon which the metallic GMT markings are laid. 

The Gilt receives the same sapphire layer construction, and uses a dark cyan chapter ring, dark gold center, with gilt GMT markings. The hour indices are etched into the underside of the top crystal, and filled with HyCeram X1 lume as we saw on the 17.09. Likewise, the hands get the same teardrop outline shape. The colors, textures, and layering of sapphire will likely lead to many unique viewing positions of the watch depending on angle and light, which has become something of a theme for the folks at Ming.

Each 22.01 will be limited to 1000 examples, offered in 4 separate ordering windows. The first, will be March 10th at 1PM GMT, where 300 examples of the Kyoto will be offered to existing customers, with the remaining 700 being offered the following day, March 11 at 1PM GMT. A week later, the Gilt will be available in the same staggered fashion, first for existing customers on the 17th at 1PM GMT, and then again on the 18th at 1PM GMT. Pricing for each is set at CHF3,250 (~$3,510), and deliveries are expected to begin at the end of 2022. Ming.